Liverpool prepare for Coutinho exit by lining up Insigne as his replacement

ESPN - Sunday 13th August, 2017

The football world is awash with gossip. Transfer Talk is monitoring the whispers ahead of all the summer moves. Check out the latest deals and potential deals here.

TOP STORY: Liverpool target Insigne to replace Coutinho

Despite a robust stance on Philippe Coutinho's future, Liverpool have quietly prepared for an event in which they do sell the Brazilian to Barcelona, reports the Mirror.

Napoli star Lorenzo Insigne is a prime candidate and the ambitious move reportedly would cost around Pound 60 million, though the Reds would likely face extreme resistance, similar to their own effort to keep Coutinho.

The Partenopei are notorious in resisting approaches for their star players, having succeeded in knocking back offers in recent years for Kalidou Koulibaly and Marek Hamsik, while Gonzalo Higuain and Edinson Cavani only departed for exceptionally high fees.

Further complicating such a move will be the Champions League qualifiers. The Reds face Hoffenheim and Napoli take on Nice, with any deal likely to be on hold until those ties have been played.

Conte demands reinforcements after opening-day implosion

Antonio Conte is to demand a flurry of signings in the closing stages of the transfer window after his Chelsea side capitulated in a 3-2 defeat to Burnley on the opening day of their Premier League title defence, reports the Telegraph.

The Blues are to immediately return to Leicester with a an improved Pound 25m offer for midfielder Danny Drinkwater, with the bonus that the England international would boost their homegrown quota.

After a mass exodus of young players on loan and Cesc Fabregas' red card in the shocking defeat to the Clarets, Conte is faced with playing one of Andreas Christensen and David Luiz out of position, or 19-year-old Kyle Scott, who is yet to play a senior game in his career, against Tottenham.

Roma make Mahrez ultimatum

After weeks of negotiations, Roma have given an ultimatum to Leicester for Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez, with Gianluca Di Marzio reporting that the Foxes have not responded to the third offer of Pound 32m.

Leicester want Pound 40m to sell to a club abroad, but director of football Monchi wants to draw a line under the situation.

A deal could still be done with a Premier League rival, where Pound 50m is the asking price, but the Giallorossi remain the most likely destination for the 26-year-old.

Tap-ins

- Gylfi Sigurdsson will finally seal his Pound 50m move to Everton this week, which will trigger a series of moves, according to the Mirror. Swansea want West Brom's Nacer Chadli to replace the Icelandic midfielder and will offer the Baggies Pound 20m, a Pound 7m profit 12 months after becoming the club's record signing.

- Arsenal have given up on their chase for Monaco midfielder Thomas Lemar, according to the Mail, accepting that the Ligue 1 champions have no interest in selling the 21-year-old this summer.

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